I nearly lost it when I noticed this album didn’t make my Best of 2009 list. …And then I realized that this gem was released in 2008. I just hadn’t gotten around to it until 2009. Anyway, Department of Eagles are Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and his friend, Fred Nicolaus. Their first album, The Cold Nose, is much different from In Ear Park. It’s still worth a listen, but The Cold Nose is much more experimentally driven with heavy electronic influence.

These two albums don’t even sound like the same band.

In Ear Park is a folk masterpiece. It opens with a song of the same name. “In Ear Park” quietly draws the listener in with delicately picked guitar, gradually building up with more guitar strokes that sound like rainfall. I notice something different in the layers of the song each time I listen. It meanders and finally gives way to “No One Does it Like You,” the poppiest song on the record. One is further enticed by Rossen’s sincere vocals as he half-croons “I tried so hard.” More intricacies hidden in the layers. Two songs in and the record is already very Beatles-esque. There are so many off the wall and unique twists in the song, but they tend to blend in, and most importantly, they make complete sense. “Phantom Other,” the third track seems to quietly fade into a distant-sounding but brilliant spectre. Right away, it’s noticeable that the first three tracks are brilliant. The album doesn’t build up and crescendo, but rather, seems to lazily meander and bask in its delicate folk sounds. Other notable tracks include “Classical Records” and “Floating on the Lehigh.” Soothing but ambitious, In Ear Park is a perfect album to end the day with.

Also to drive home to.

Head over to Daytrotter and pick up their session for free here.